337.1K
Downloads
262
Episodes
The Great Trials Podcast offers a series of laid-back, casual conversations with leading trial lawyers, taking listeners "behind the scenes" of America’s greatest trials. Hosted by acclaimed trial lawyers Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey, each podcast episode focuses on one important trial and includes in-depth, insightful interviews with the attorneys who successfully argued the case in front of a judge and jury.
Episodes
Tuesday Jun 06, 2023
Tuesday Jun 06, 2023
This week Steve and Yvonne interview Brian Beckcom of VB Attorneys (https://www.vbattorneys.com/).
Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review
Case Details:
The crew of the Maersk Alabama was attacked and taken hostage by Somali pirates. The events were depicted in a Hollywood blockbuster called “Captain Phillips” starring Tom Hanks. Brian and his firm countered a massive Hollywood publicity campaign that portrayed Captain Phillips as a hero and the crew as lazy layabouts, when in fact the exact opposite was true. The case resulted in a confidential settlement for each crew member. It also changed the way the shipping industry provides security to the men and women who travel in dangerous, pirate-infested waters
Guest Bio:
Brian Beckcom
Brian Beckcom is one of the leading lawyers of his generation. Brian's peers have voted him a Texas Super Lawyer 14 years in a row, and every single year he has been eligible. Brian is also a Board Certified Expert in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a recognition shared by less than 2% of lawyers.
Brian has obtained hundreds of millions of dollars for his clients, and he and his law firm have obtained record-setting settlements and verdicts in a wide variety of significant legal cases.
Brian is also a Computer Scientist & Philosopher. He created and hosts the popular podcast "Lesson from Leaders with Brian Beckcom."
Brian is a military "brat," a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a single-digit golfer, a former college basketball player at Texas A&M, a four-year member of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets, and an accomplished freshwater and saltwater fly fisherman.
Brian is an honors graduate of the University of Texas School of Law. He is the author of 6 books and hundreds of articles on a wide variety of topics.
Brian has successfully prosecuted many high profile cases. The national and international media has covered Brian's work on these complex cases.
Show Sponsors:
Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com
Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com
Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com
Free Resources:
Tuesday May 23, 2023
Tuesday May 23, 2023
This week Steve and Yvonne interview Bob Cheeley of Cheeley Law Group, LLC (https://cheeleylawgroup.com/).
Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review
Guest Bio:
Robert D. Cheeley
“I’m just a small town country lawyer” is the way Bob Cheeley refers to himself. Having grown up in Buford, Georgia in the 1960’s and 1970’s, Bob grew up wanting to help people, just as his parents, Selma Medlock Cheeley and his father, Joseph E. Cheeley, Jr. modeled for him. Bob’s mother would never miss the opportunity to help out a family in need with a meal, clothing and Christmas gifts. Mrs. Cheeley served on the Buford City School Board during integration of the schools when Bob was in middle school. Bob’s father, Joe, was a lawyer in Buford for over 60 years after graduating from the University of Georgia in 1952. While in law school, Joe would earn money as the Sanford Stadium announcer on game days. Joe also served as State Court Judge in Gwinnett County for 20 years.
Bob grew up driving tractors and working on the family farm. Later, Bob worked in his father’s law office in the summers during college and law school. It was during this time that Bob realized his calling to become a trial lawyer with a desire to help people who had been wronged, either to their person or their business.
Like his father, Bob is a “Double Dawg,” having achieved two degrees from the University of Georgia, a degree in political science in 1978 and his Juris Doctorate from the School of Law in 1982. Bob has been advocating for the rights of Georgia residents who have sustained serious and catastrophic injuries his entire career. Bob has also represented business owners who have been the victim of breaches of fiduciary duties by a partner. Bob is the founding member and the managing partner of Cheeley Law Group, LLC, located in Alpharetta.
Over the course of his career, Bob has secured over six hundred million ($600,000,000) dollars in jury verdicts and settlements. Most of these have been against insurers and publicly traded corporations, including trucking companies which caused injuries and deaths on the highways. Bob has also achieved justice for people who have suffered catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, due to automobile product defects in vehicles manufactured by companies such as General Motors, Toyota Motor Company, Suzuki Motor Company, Nissan Motor Company, and Ford Motor Company, among others.
One of the most notable cases which Bob tried with his former law partner is Moseley vs. General Motors which resulted in a verdict of $105 million dollars in Atlanta in 1993. The subject vehicle was a 1982 model Chevrolet pickup truck equipped with two “side saddle” fuel tanks, located just inside the sheet metal on each side of the truck. Bob tracked down a former GM fuel system engineer named Ron Elwell who was retired. Moseley aired live on Courtroom TV and is recognized throughout the nation as a landmark win which advanced automotive fuel system design safety.
Some of Bob’s other noteworthy cases include three settlements totaling $45 million against US Xpress trucking company arising out of a tragic collision in 2015 I-16 when one of its tractor trailers ran into the rear of two vehicles carrying seven Georgia Southern nursing students, resulting in 5 deaths and 2 injuries. Only one of those cases went to trial, Richards vs. US Xpress, which involved a mild traumatic brain injury and PTSD suffered by the plaintiff. The defendants’ insurer, AIG, was intent on saving as much of the remaining policy limits as possible and offered only $1 million before trial. The jury returned a verdict of $15 million.
Bob has other notable wins at trial including a $4o million dollar verdict against Toyota when the highest offer pretrial was $10,000.
Bob is licensed to practice in Georgia, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Bob has been a long-standing member of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and the American Association for Justice. He also served as a board member of the Attorneys Information Exchange Group. Bob also serves on the board of directors of The Piedmont Bank in Peachtree Corners, Ga.
Show Sponsors:
Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com
Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com
Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com
Free Resources:
Tuesday May 09, 2023
Tuesday May 09, 2023
This week we’re replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve and Yvonne interview Bibi Fell of Fell Law, PC (https://www.fellfirm.com/).
Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review
Case Details:
California trial lawyer Bibi Fell, a founding partner at Fell Law, PC and a partner at Athea Trial Lawyers, shares how she successfully represented a breast cancer patient who fell victim to the beliefs and unconventional cancer treatment of a New York Times bestselling author masquerading as a licensed doctor. Plaintiff Dawn Kali was diagnosed with treatable Stage 1 breast cancer and rejected traditional treatment options in favor of the "Father of the Alkaline Diet" Robert O. Young's "pH Miracle" approach, which focused on making the body less acidic and more alkaline. This process involved costly extended stays at Young’s Rancho del Sol in Valley Center, California and expensive intravenous treatments that consisted of little more than baking soda. Unable to pay, Dawn worked for Young in exchange for treatments that were ultimately ineffective. After much time had passed, Dawn went to an oncologist and was diagnosed with terminal Stage 4 cancer that had spread to her spine and femur. At trial, Bibi Fell demonstrated that Young’s "pH Miracle" treatment was neither scientifically nor medically sound. In spite of the defense's claims that Dawn was aware that Young was not a licensed medical doctor and that she was not prevented from seeking conventional medical treatment, a San Diego jury found in favor of Dawn for her claims against Young of intentional misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation, false promise and negligence. In October 2018, the jury awarded Dawn a $105,356,000 verdict, including $15 million in punitive damages.
Guest Bio:
Bibi Fell
Bibi represents plaintiffs who suffered catastrophic injuries or the death of a loved one. She is the Founding Partner of Fell Law, PC, in San Diego, California and is a Partner at Athea Trial Lawyers, a nationwide plaintiff’s firm comprised of six prominent female trial lawyers.
Bibi is one of the few women attorneys to have received a verdict over $100,000,000.00 as lead trial counsel. Bibi is a National Board Member for the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). Membership is extended by invitation only to lawyers who have demonstrated extensive trial experience, civility and professionalism. In 2018, Bibi was one of three finalists for Consumer Attorneys of California’s “Consumer Advocate of the Year,” Consumer Attorneys of San Diego’s “Trial Lawyer of the Year” award and received the “Outstanding Trial Lawyer” award and “Outstanding Advocate” award from Consumer Attorneys of San Diego. In 2020, she received the “Trial Lawyer of the Year” award from Pepperdine Law School. Bibi has also been selected to be a member of Lawdragon 500, The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 Trial Lawyers, the Daily Journal’s Top 100 Women Lawyers, and has been selected as a Top 50 San Diego Superlawyer and Top 25 Women Superlawyer.
Bibi gives back by teaching Advanced Trial Advocacy at the USD Law, serving as the program director for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy’s Pacific Deposition Skills program, and teaching trial skills through NITA around the country and internationally. Bibi devotes her time to serve as a “Parent Partner” to parents of children newly diagnosed with Hepatoblastoma, a malignant liver tumor found in young children.
Show Sponsors:
Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com
Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com
Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com
Free Resources:
Tuesday Mar 28, 2023
Tuesday Mar 28, 2023
This week Steve and Yvonne interview Bill Atkins of Warshauer Woodward Atkins (https://warlawgroup.com/) and Bill is joined by the plaintiff in the case, Mr. Mark Tuggle. A podcast first!
Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review
Guest Bio:
William J. Atkins
Bill Atkins represents clients in medical malpractice, wrongful death, and catastrophic personal injury cases. He has developed unique expertise representing children injured or killed in daycare facilities, victims of sexual abuse in youth service, religious or academic institutions, and victims of excessive force by law enforcement officers. He is also a certified mediator and arbitrator.
Bill began his career prosecuting felonies and misdemeanors in Douglas County. He transitioned to civil practice in 2000 and has earned a reputation as a tenacious trial lawyer. He has secured multiple six and seven-figure verdicts and settlements for his clients in employment discrimination, civil rights, medical malpractice, and other catastrophic personal injury cases.
Juries have returned multi-million-dollar verdicts in all of Bill’s medical malpractice cases. Bill has also secured multi-million-dollar settlements for his clients in commercial trucking cases, sexual abuse of children by a volunteer in a youth services organization, and the family of a little girl who choked to death in a daycare center.
Bill is a member of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association’s Executive Committee. He is a GTLA Champion and PAC member. Bill has given seminar presentations on a variety of topics including medical malpractice, non-emergency medical transport, auto and trucking, trial techniques, employment discrimination, and police misconduct.
Bill volunteers his time to serve as co-director of the Walton High School Mock Trial Program. Each year, he recruits lawyers to help teach high school students the fundamentals of trial practice. The team has finished in the top 3 in the Region every year, won a District championship, and earned a spot in the State tournament 2 times, including a run to the final four in 2021.
Bill lives in Marietta with his wife, Kathleen, and Puppy, a delightful 15-pound poodle mix. He has four stepchildren scattered around the country and enjoys frequent visits with them. He plays golf, enjoys sailing, and wastes far too much emotional energy rooting for various sports teams.
Show Sponsors:
Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com
Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com
Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com
Free Resources:
Tuesday Mar 14, 2023
Tuesday Mar 14, 2023
This week Steve and Yvonne interview Natalie Woodward of Warshauer Woodward Atkins (https://warlawgroup.com/) and Dax López of DelCampo Grayson Lopez Attorneys at Law (https://dglattorneys.com/).
Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review
Guest Bios:
Natalie Woodward
Anyone who meets Natalie Woodward feels like they have known her their entire life. It is this ability to put people at ease that makes her such an effective trial lawyer. Natalie secured a $77.7 million psychiatric malpractice verdict in September 2022 for the Carusillo family who’s son was forced out of a mental health facility without his medication in 2017. Watch the News Nation interview about the case.
In 2010, she tried her first jury trial as lead counsel in a wrongful arrest case and secured a $1 million verdict which is the largest verdict of its kind in Georgia history. In 2021, she was interviewed about this trial. https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-e8jnd-101dc94
Her cases have made international and national news including her fight to protect the rights of children on social media. https://youtu.be/cfGYpv8iKIE
In 2014, she argued before the Georgia Court of Appeals to obtain increased protection for children targeted on social media. https://caselaw.findlaw.com/ga-court-of-appeals/1680364.html Natalie has also led the fight to secure justice for victims of childhood sexual abuse.
Natalie is a proud native of Powder Springs, Georgia and is a venerable “Double Dawg.” She received undergraduate degrees in Journalism and Political Science from UGA and then graduated from UGA Law in 2002. While in law school, she was a member of the 2001 Champion Intrastate Moot Court Team, President of her Second Year Class and Chair of the Moot Court Board.
Natalie serves on the Executive Committee for the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and the Bench and Bar Committee of the State Bar of Georgia. She has been recognized by her peers as one of the best lawyers in the State for the past six years and was selected as one of the Best Young Lawyers in Georgia by Atlanta Magazine.
Dax López
For nearly 11 years, Dax served as a judge on the State Court of DeKalb County where he presided over complex criminal and civil matters. As only the second Hispanic judge on a court of record in the history of Georgia, Dax was known to be an efficient, fair, and just jurist who earned the respect of lawyers and litigants alike.
A native of Ponce Puerto Rico, Dax attended Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt Law School where he was an editor on the Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law and the president of the Vanderbilt Bar Association. After law school, Dax served as the law clerk for federal judge Hector M. Laffitte in the Federal District Court for the District of Puerto Rico.
Prior to his appointment to the bench, Dax was a trial lawyer at three prestigious law firms in Atlanta specializing in complex civil matters, business litigation, product liability, and employment law.
Throughout his legal career, Dax has received numerous recognitions. Dax has been named as one of the Top Fifty Industry Leaders by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, as among Georgia’s Legal Elite by Georgia Trend magazine, and as a Rising Star in 2009 and 2010 by the SuperLawyer Magazine. In 2010, Mundo Hispanico named Dax to be the Funcionario Destacado del Aňo. In 2011, Dax was named by Georgia Trend Magazine to be among the best and brightest 40 Under 40 and by The Fulton Daily Report to be among those in the legal profession who were “On the Rise.” He is also the recipient of the Justice Benham Community Service Award.
Dax served on the Board of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials for 15 years, and as President of the Georgia Hispanic Bar Association from 2006-2008. He is also a past president of the Cooper Inn of Court. Currently, he is a Trustee on the Board of Leadership Georgia, a member of the Board of Councilors for the American Jewish Committee, and a member of the Anti-Defamation League’s regional board. He is also a member of the State Bar of Georgia’s Board of Governors and a member of the Standing Committee of Interpreters.
In 2015, President Barack Obama nominated Dax to a vacant seat on the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. Unfortunately, Dax did not receive a hearing in the U.S. Senate and his nomination expired at the end of President Obama’s term.
Show Sponsors:
Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com
Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com
Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com
Free Resources:
Tuesday Feb 28, 2023
Tuesday Feb 28, 2023
This week we’re replaying a classic episode where Steve and Yvonne interview Mike Haggard of the Haggard Law Firm (http://www.haggardlawfirm.com/).
Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review
Episode Description:
Best Lawyers of America’s 2017 Trial Lawyer of the Year Mike Haggard of The Haggard Law Firm explains how he secured one of the largest single personal injury verdicts in Florida history on behalf of Lorri and Lonnie Hinton, the parents of 2-year-old Loren “Tookie” Hinton. Loren suffered irreversible brain damage, leaving her unable to walk or talk after she nearly drowned in an apartment complex pool. The six-foot-deep pool was enclosed by a broken gate that the complex’s staff knowingly delayed fixing, without notifying tenants of the danger it posed to children. A Broward County jury assigned 99% of the blame to 2331 Adams Street Corporation and 1% to Loren’s father Lonnie for a lapse in supervision.
Guest Bio:
Mike Haggard
Compassionate, empathetic and a fervent advocate for victims of crime, Michael Haggard has dedicated his career to the pursuit of justice on behalf of his clients in the courtroom securing unprecedented awards and as an activist who continuously lobbies for permanent solutions and changes through local, statewide and federal legislation. Specializing in pool drowning, negligent security, wrongful death, unsafe premises, and products liability, Haggard has established himself as a powerful force in the South Florida Legal Community as the Managing Partner for The Haggard Law Firm. After spending time as a Public Defender and working with a small personal injury firm before joining The Haggard Law Firm, Haggard was named a partner in 2001, secure in the belief that every case holds equal importance and could mean the opportunity to award a family resolution to a devastating incident.
Show Sponsors:
Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com
Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com
Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com
Free Resources:
Tuesday Feb 14, 2023
Tuesday Feb 14, 2023
This week Steve and Yvonne interview Gregg Goldfarb of Gregg M. Goldfarb, LLP (https://gregggoldfarb.com/) and the “Cut to the Chase” Podcast (https://www.cuttothechasepodcast.com/).
Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review
Guest Bio:
Gregg Goldfarb
Gregg Goldfarb has been diligently representing injured clients for over 25 years. He has helped thousands of clients in complicated litigation receive millions of dollars in compensation for their injuries. His extensive experience includes whistleblower litigation, mass tort claims, accidents, PIP insurance claims, and civil rights claims. A valued member of his community, Gregg has been advocating for the disabled community for 15 years, serving as past President of the South Florida Center for Independent Living, and starting an environmental non-profit called Clean Miami River.
With a bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia and a law degree from the University of Miami School of Law, Gregg has worked on over 5000 legal cases in state and federal court.
Gregg also hosts Cut to the Chase: podcast, which has nearly 100 episodes where he interviews the best lawyers in the country and on some of the biggest cases, and experts on topics ranging from the universe, energy, cryptocurrency, insurance, and even movies.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/masstortguy/
Show Sponsors:
Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com
Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com
Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com
Free Resources:
Tuesday Jan 31, 2023
Tuesday Jan 31, 2023
This week Steve and Yvonne interview Anthony Elman & Frederick Joseph of Elman Joseph Law Group, LLC (https://www.elmanlaw.com/).
Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review
Guest Bios:
Anthony Ellman
Anthony (Tony) Elman is the Lead Trial Attorney of the Elman Joseph Law Group, LLC. He has been named a "Super Lawyer" by Thomson Reuters each year from 2016-2022. This "Super Lawyer" designation is granted to no more than 5% of lawyers based upon 12 indicators of both professional achievement as well as peer recognition.
Anthony Elman was born in Chicago, Illinois on October 22, 1966. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1988 from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, went on to earn his J.D. degree in 1991 from Tulane Law School in New Orleans, Louisiana, and earned his Master of Law degree (L.L.M.) in health care law in 1994 from the DePaul Law School/Health Law Institute in Chicago, Illinois. He was admitted to the State of Illinois Bar and the General and Trial Bar of the United States District Court of North Eastern Illinois in 1992.
Frederick Joseph
Frederick is a partner and trial lawyer for the Elman Joseph Law Group, LLC. He was named to the 2021 & 2022 "Rising Stars" group of lawyers by Thomson Reuters as part of their "Super Lawyers" awards. This "Rising Stars" designation is for those under 40 years old or who have been practicing law for 10 years or less and is granted to the Top 2.5% of lawyers. The designation is based upon 12 indicators encompassing both professional achievement and peer review.
The Elman Joseph Law Group concentrates on Illinois personal injury lawsuits involving car, truck, SUV, motorcycle, bicycle, and pedestrian accident injuries. The firm also handles cases involving premises liability injury cases (including "slip & fall" accidents), workplace accidents, injuries and accidents that occur in nursing homes, and other situations where injury or death has resulted due to the negligence or intentional actions of another person.
Frederick prides himself on his success rate at arbitration and at trial. Like other lawyers at the Elman Joseph Law Group, LLC, he is unwilling to just "settle" cases by accepting inappropriate offers from the insurance companies.
Among his accomplishments are the results he achieved in two Cook County car accident cases. Mr. Joseph has obtained the highest jury verdict awards in two separate Cook County municipal division courtrooms in 2018. Both verdicts are more than double the amount of the next highest verdict in their respective courtrooms. In one car accident court trial, the verdict was 12 times the final offer from the defense attorney; in the other lawsuit, the verdict was over 5 times the final offer from the defense attorney.
Another example of Mr. Joseph's trial capabilities took place recently in Cook County. The plaintiff (a public school teacher) was struck after the defendant ran a red light and collided with her vehicle. The insurance company wanted to settle the case for less than the plaintiff's medical bills, and award her nothing for her pain and suffering. Mr. Joseph, unwilling to settle for that amount, took the case to trial. After closing arguments, the jury returned a verdict for his client for over four times what the insurance company was offering to settle the case.
He graduated from the Purchase College Conservatory of Music, and he continued his graduate studies at Boston University. His J.D. degree is from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law. During law school, he was a member of the Dean’s List, participated on the ABA Mock Trial Team, and spent two years clerking in the litigation/product liability group for a prestigious national corporate defense firm.
Show Sponsors:
Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com
Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com
Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com
Free Resources:
Tuesday Jan 17, 2023
Tuesday Jan 17, 2023
This week Steve and Yvonne interview Daniel Callahan, founding partner of Callahan & Blaine (https://www.callahan-law.com/)
and owner of Callahan Consulting (https://callahanconsulting.com/).
Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review
Guest Bio:
Daniel Callahan
Throughout his career, Daniel J. Callahan has always been known as one of the top trial attorneys in California. His notable jury verdicts included a $934,000,000 jury verdict obtained after a three-month jury trial in a complex business dispute entitled Beckman Coulter vs. Flextronics. This unanimous verdict was the largest in California in 2003 and remains the largest in Orange County history.
Mr. Callahan also went on to obtain a $50,000,000 settlement in a road design case against the City of Dana Point. Exclusive of large class actions, this continues to be the largest personal injury settlement in United States history.
Mr. Callahan also obtained, after a two-month jury trial, a $38 Million settlement on behalf of a class of newspaper delivery drivers against The Orange County Register. This is still the highest employment settlement in Orange County’s history.
Mr. Callahan grew up in Chicago, Illinois where he went on to receive his BA, magna cum laude, from Western Illinois University in 1976, and graduated with honors from the UC Davis School of Law in 1979, while serving as Editor of the Law Review. He began his career in Hawaii before relocating to Southern California and starting his own firm by opening the doors on St. Patrick’s Day, 1984. Mr. Callahan also provides corporate consulting to law firms and lawyers regarding litigation and strategy through Callahan Consulting Group, LLC.
Show Sponsors:
Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com
Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com
Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com
Free Resources:
Tuesday Jan 03, 2023
Tuesday Jan 03, 2023
This week Steve and Yvonne interview Jake Zimmerman of The Zimmerman Firm (http://zimmerman-firm.com/) and Genevieve Zimmerman of MeshBesher and Spence (https://www.meshbesher.com/).
Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review
Guest Bios:
Jake Zimmerman
Jake Zimmerman has litigated on behalf of plaintiffs whose total recoveries approach a billion dollars. Much of his practice focuses on intellectual property disputes, and on patent litigation and licensing in particular. He has also litigated high-stakes cases on behalf of personal injury plaintiffs and defendants. He was selected as a 2019 Attorney of the Year in Minnesota for his groundbreaking work on behalf of a parent whose son was killed at Sandy Hook. He was again selected as an Attorney of the Year in Minnesota in 2021 for his role in appeals from the Bair Hugger MDL litigation against 3M.
Jake graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Minnesota School of Law. He lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota with his wife, Genevieve, and two wonderful children.
Genevieve Zimmerman
Genevieve presently serves as court-appointed Co-Lead Counsel for plaintiffs in MDL 2666: In re Bair Hugger Products Liability Litigation. Genevieve was trial counsel in the only bellwether trial. The Bair Hugger MDL includes claims brought by patients who allege the Bair Hugger patient warming system caused deep joint infections following total hip and total knee replacement surgeries.
Genevieve is also Co-Lead Counsel for Plaintiffs in MDL 2775: In re Smith & Nephew Birmingham Hip Resurfacing Products Liability pending in the District of Maryland. The MDL includes claims brought on behalf of patients who required revision surgery as a result of defective BHR products. Plaintiffs have successfully defeated a motion to dismiss based on preemption and tried the first MDL bellwether case in July 2021. After a three-week trial, the jury agreed Smith & Nephew was negligent for its false or misleading communications to orthopedic surgeons.
Since 2013, Genevieve has served as a court-appointed member of the Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel Committee for MDL 2441: In re Stryker Rejuvenate and ABGII Hip Implant Products Liability Litigation, and is also one of four attorneys appointed to the Settlement Committee for the Stryker MDL, which helped to negotiate a settlement in excess of $1.43 billion.
Additionally, in May of 2019, Genevieve was appointed to the Plaintiff’s Executive Committee of the 3M Combat earplug litigation MDL.
She is one of 14 lawyers appointed by Judge Englehardt to MDL 2740, In re Taxotere, which includes claims brought by women who have suffered permanent baldness as a result of the use of Taxotere.
She was court appointed to the PSC for the Biomet MDL in the Northern District of Louisiana, and helps patients suffering from hips made by Smith & Nephew, DePuy, Wright/MicroPort, and Zimmer.
Genevieve’s past work includes helping heart defibrillator patients after a Guidant recall in 2006. She represented patients who suffered serious injuries and death following the use of the recalled prescription drug Vioxx. She has assisted hundreds of clients in obtaining settlements for defective products including Yaz, transvaginal mesh, hernia mesh, Actos, to name a few.
During 2007-2009, Genevieve spent nearly 75% of her time providing pro bono legal services to the survivors and families who lost loved ones as a result of the I-35W Bridge Collapse. The consortium was successful in obtaining recoveries exceeding $75 million.
Genevieve serves the community through ongoing pro bono work where she has represented victims of domestic violence seeking to obtain court orders for protection, immigrants seeking to update immigration documents, and high school students seeking protection of their first amendment rights to equal access to school facilities.
Genevieve is currently the immediate Past President of the Minnesota Association for Justice, having served on the Board of Governors since 2009, and was proud to receive the “Member of the Year” award in 2012, and the “Star” award in 2021. She is a past member of the Board of Governors for the American Association for Justice. Genevieve has been rated by SuperLawyers as a Super Lawyer since 2014.
On a personal note, Genevieve volunteers and raises money for scholarship funds for her alma mater, St. Paul Central High School. In whatever free time she has left, she enjoys travel, skiing, recreational marathons, teaching her kids how to swing a hammer, shovel class five, and cheering for her Minnesota sports teams.
Show Sponsors:
Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com
Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com
Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com
Free Resources: